A reflective Independence Day

ON AUGUST 31, the Equal Opportunity Commission joins the nation in celebrating a reflective Independence Day. It has been 61 years since we as a people decided to create our own identity, live within a fair society, free from discrimination, and have the autonomy and ability to make informed decisions that chart our own course.

TT is renowned within the Caribbean and can boast of its uniqueness captured by our ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, inclusive of its foods, music and dress. Its composition reflects the influence of African, Indian-South Asian, Indigenous, European, Chinese, North American, Latino, and Arab cultures. We are the birthplace of the steelpan and the home of the greatest show on earth, Carnival.

The Constitution of TT recognises and declares rights and freedoms without discrimination, regardless of race, origin, colour, religion, or sex. This has been substantiated and reaffirmed in the Equal Opportunity Act, which was created to prohibit certain kinds of discrimination and promote equality of opportunity between people of different status.

Since our independence, our nation has achieved numerous positive and significant accomplishments and Independence Day gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate who we are as a nation and what it means to be truly independent.

Notwithstanding the many achievements, we are still on a journey, where we are learning to be inclusive of all people despite their backgrounds and that each citizen is treated in a fair and equal manner.

While recent events within the country have brought to the forefront many conversations surrounding issues of race and colour, the EOC encourages people to practise forbearance and respect others regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion, origin, or disability. Through its public awareness and education sessions, both civil society and private and public sector organisations have garnered an array of knowledge on discrimination issues and learned how to become more inclusive and respectful of others.

The EOC continues to fulfil its mandate by proposing amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act to accommodate those within vulnerable communities, including but not limited to the elderly, people with disabilities, and people of varied sexual orientations. It is our duty as a people to champion freedoms and rights and challenge outdated ideologies and stigma in the pursuit of true independence.

We should aim to embody our motto, "Together we aspire, Together we achieve," and regard our national watchwords, Discipline, Production, Tolerance. It is important to remember that there is value in our differences, and we can use these opportunities to learn from each other and recognise that, as human beings, we are more alike than unalike.

As we celebrate this 61st Independence Day, let us remain steadfast in our efforts to create the future we want for our children, our grandchildren, and ourselves. Let us renew our commitment to working together as a nation to address the challenges we encounter and let this day remind us of the shared values that unite us and invigorate us to strive for a greater and more inclusive world.

Happy Independence Day, TT.